Intelligence Delayed, but Not Derailed

It’s back to the future for the requirement that all letter and flat automation mailings be Full-Service Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) compliant to obtain discounts. Mailers were expecting implementation this week of the Full-Service requirement, but the U.S. Postal Service pushed back the date until 2015 because the Postal Regulatory Commission ruled that the mandate constituted a price increase that would have busted the inflation-based price cap.

Many mailers welcomed the delay, as few felt the entire industry – the Postal Service included – was ready for full-service, which included the requirement that barcodes keep their unique sequence of numbers for at least 45 days before the barcode sequence is used again. A number of large mailers have been Full-Service IMb compliant for months and have taken advantage of the benefits of IMbs, including tracking of service performance, identifying bottlenecks, and coordinating follow-up marketing efforts. But many mid-sized and smaller mailers were not ready for the added requirements, which include electronic submission of postage statements and use of unique IMbs on trays and containers. And concerns were growing that the Postal Service’s systems are not yet capable of handling the expected increase in IMb data.

The Office of Inspector General raised similar concerns in a fall audit report. In particular, we found the Postal Service had fallen short in developing a comprehensive plan for the continued development and use of IMb data. Notably, the Postal Service’s plans around the use of IMb data have grown considerably since its original vision of the program and it has not taken into account the needs of all mailers. The Postal Service needs to upgrade its data storage capabilities and data systems to accommodate the growing use of IMbs and to support stakeholders’ needs.

The silver lining in this delay could be that it gives the Postal Service another year to develop a comprehensive IMb data plan that includes detailed input from all business users and identifies costs and milestones for the life of the IMb program. It also gives mailers more time to get ready, while letting those already in the Full-Service IMb program keep their modest discounts.

Share your thoughts on the Full-Service IMb and the delayed implementation date.

Do you think another year will make a difference in the readiness of mailers? Of the Postal Service’s systems?

What incentives would you like to see to encourage smaller mailers to make the conversion to Full-Service IMb?

If you are already Full-Service compliant, what value do you get from the program?

It appears that USPS engineering has dropped the ball in implementing the technology needed to make IMB viable. This appears similar to the Flat Sorting machines and other programs Engineering has failed at. USPS needs to outsource the management and development of all engineering type work. How many times are they going to come up short while making mailers jump though hoops with false deadlines.

It is clearly safe to say NO INSTITUTION WILL PUT A STOP TO THIS EXTREME ABUSE FROM POSTAL WORKERS/COURIERS!! ! ! ! ! ! SINCE NO ONE WISHES TO PUT A STOP TO THIS MATTER THIS SHALL BE TAKEN TO A HIGHER STANDARD OF PEOPLE THAT WILL END THIS ABUSE. EVERY BLOODY PACKAGE I EXPECT TO HAVE DELIVERED NEVER GETS DELIVERED. 290 SPRINGFIELD AVE NEWARK NJ POST OFFICE IS A DISASTER. HOW MANY FREAKING COMPLAINTS MUST GO IN, I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY COOPERATIVE WITH ALL THESE EMPLOYEES. IT IS TIME FOR BETTER ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN. ! ! ! ! ! !

EVERY FREAKING EMPLOYEE AT THAT LOCATION. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND NO ACTIONS TAKEN. THE CAMEL'S BACK HAS BEEN BROKEN AND NOW TIME FOR ALL CAMELS TO RISE.

SURVEILLANCE SURROUNDS PROPERTY AND CLEARLY SHOWS NO ATTEMPTS BY ANY EMPLOYEE COURIER

How we trust the USP when they are stealing packages and then tell there nothing they can do? I thought it was a federal offense to tamper with the mail. I guess that doesn't apply to their own workers. I sent a package to Puerto Rico and it "lost" really! and they play this who on first routine just to get you to look somewhere else. this is unacceptable I serve my country in the navy for over 16 years and never would think low life behavior and tactical like taking other peoples mail and packagers still exist in these time, 21st century. United States Post Office please find my package I sent to my son for college, can you do that?

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